The ​Crown of Gilded Bones

Also known as Hawke and “the Dark One,” Cas is the novel’s second protagonist. An elemental Atlantian, Cas is powerful and fast and possesses a heightened sense of smell and taste. He is tall with dark hair and amber eyes that turn black when he needs to feed on Atlantian blood. Cas’s original objective in the series is to rescue his brother, Malik Da’Neer, from Solis. However, this changes at the opening of The Crown of Gilded Bones when Poppy first exhibits her godlike power before nearly dying. Cas decides to rule Atlantia as king alongside Poppy, though he still intends to save Malik and negotiate with Isbeth. Aside from this change in motivation, Cas remains a mostly static character, and his purpose is to serve and protect Poppy while she undergoes drastic changes.

Cas continuously encourages Poppy to take command of her choices and free will, and he understands how much Poppy’s freedom means to her. Cas prioritizes Poppy over all else, even the Kingdom of Atlantia. This becomes clear when he gives Poppy the choice to run away, even when he knows that his home will fall into civil war should he and Poppy refuse to step into the roles of king and queen. As he states, “I do not want to be party to forcing you into yet another role you did not ask for nor desire. I will not replace the veil you loathed with a crown you hate” (292). As Poppy grapples with her identity in light of new information about her destiny, Cas remains a grounding presence supporting her free will.

A wolven and best friend to Cas and Poppy, Kieran experiences several changes in The Crown of Gilded Bones. Although he and the other wolven are initially bonded to Cas, they switch their allegiance to Poppy when she first displays her godlike power. Although he still considers Cas his best friend and can accurately intuit Cas’s thoughts and emotions, Kieran also gains the ability to communicate telepathically with Poppy. Her safety becomes Kieran’s top priority, and he follows any orders she gives. When Poppy and Cas become the rulers of Atlantia, Kieran becomes their advisor. Fulfilling the clichéd role of trusty sidekick, Kieran offers comic relief and serves as a contrast to Cas’s more severe and violent traits.

Much of the setting focuses on Kieran’s hometown of Saion’s Cove, where his parents, Jasper and Kirha, live. Poppy believes that Kieran’s dark features and clothes clash with his pregnant mother’s colorful, cozy dwelling. Kieran’s sister, Vonetta, is another fierce warrior and confidant to Poppy. Kieran adds to the novel’s romance elements as he engages in public sexual acts at a wedding, which is common behavior among the wolven. Though Kieran has always adored Poppy and her endless questions, his relationship and respect for her become more profound as their bond strengthens. Their closeness becomes paramount after Cas’s capture, and Kieran and Poppy depend on each other as they calculate their next moves against Isbeth.

As Poppy’s beloved adoptive brother, Ian is the biological son of Coralena and Leopold Balfour, who died when Poppy and Ian were children. Ian looks similar to Poppy, with red hair and green eyes, but they share no common DNA. Poppy spends most of her adolescence separated from Ian, only seeing him in Spessa’s End after she begins the Culling. When he becomes an Ascended, Ian’s eyes turn black and his skin lightens in color. At this point, he can no longer tolerate sunlight, and Poppy cannot read his emotions.

Poppy hopes that Ian will serve as an example of an Ascended who can agree to live peacefully in a united Solis and Atlantia. Most people outside of Solis believe that the Ascended are soulless, bloodthirsty entities that are utterly devoid of emotion and respect for other lifeforms. However, Poppy believes that Ian still retains his considerate and loving traits from adolescence, and she intends to convince Atlantians to allow others like Ian to live. While Ian overtly declares his commitment to the Blood Queen (Isbeth), he warns Poppy about the Revenant, and this act proves to Poppy that he still cares about her safety. Ian’s ambiguous loyalty mirrors that of Malik Da’Neer. Isbeth kills Ian toward the novel’s end, turning him into a martyr.

As the first-born prince of Atlantia and Cas’s older brother, Malik was initially considered the rightful heir to the Atlantian throne, at least until Poppy’s godlike power emerged. Malik is similar in appearance to Cas, and his eyes are golden-amber. He also has light brown hair and angular features. Years earlier, Malik and Kieran rescued Cas from decades of Ascended imprisonment, only for Malik to be captured himself. Poppy and Cas initially meet in Of Blood and Ash when Cas kidnaps Poppy and intends to trade her for Malik. Now, Cas and Poppy assume that Malik is being tortured by the Ascended as Cas was. However, Malik reveals himself to be a traitor, claiming to believe Queen Eloana’s lies while intending to help her advance her master plan of Atlantian destruction.

Although Malik appears only briefly at the novel’s conclusion, subtle hints indicate that his betrayal is more complex than it seems. As Poppy observes signs of Malik’s ambivalent body language, it becomes clear that more is yet to be revealed about his true loyalties and intentions. Malik holds a critical connection to the Revenant Handmaiden, a link that will undoubtedly develop in the next Blood and Ash novel.

Valyn and Eloana serve as the King and Queen of Atlantia until Cas and Poppy assume these titles. Centuries earlier, Eloana was married to Malec, who is the son of Nyktos, King of the Gods. Eloana ended her marriage to Malec when he ascended Isbeth. This first ascension led to the War of Two Kings. Eloana then killed Malec and Isbeth’s infant son. She entombed Malec in a crypt in the Blood Forest, where he remains at the novel’s close. Valyn and Eloana lost significant Atlantian land during the War of Two Kings. Although they now struggle to manage their kingdom’s growing population with limited resources, Valyn and Eloana illustrate profound care for their people’s well-being. They ensure that all Atlantian children attend school, travel freely throughout the kingdom, and live free of political oppression. Despite differences in ruling styles, Poppy finds Eloana to be “an incredibly strong woman, one to be respected and admired” (388). On multiple occasions, Poppy also feels grateful for Valyn’s protection. While Poppy struggles to read Valyn’s emotions, he forms a paternal affection for her. Valyn cares deeply for his children; upon learning of Malik’s betrayal, he requests that Poppy give his erring son a quick death. This moment highlights the unconditional love he carries for his oldest child.